'Isles of Wonder' to be used as 2012 Olympic ceremony theme

The 2012 London Games will be quite the wonder. As artistic director Danny Boyle channels none other than the playwright William Shakespeare as inspiration for the ceremony he calls "Isles of Wonder."

The 2012 Olympics which are to be held in London this summer will have a theme for its opening ceremony apparently worthy of the Bard himself. The sequence, as envisioned by Oscar-winning artistic director, Danny Boyle, is going to be based off of William Shakespeare's play, The Tempest - or the line from it, "Be not afeard, the isle is full of noises," more precisely - and be called the "Isles of Wonder."

According to BBC News, the July 27th ceremony is expected to be viewed by one billion people worldwide, and will cost a staggering £27 million. Steven Daldry, who directed Billy Elliot, was put on as the 2012 Games' executive director, said the assigned job of bringing the show together despite an £81 million budget was like "the task [of] producing 165 West End musicals at the same time."

"They [the Olympic and Paralympic Opening and Closing Ceremonies] will represent one journey to the end of the Paralympics, looking at who we are, who we were and who we would wish to be," Daldry said.

Danny Boyle, who directed such films as Trainspotting and Slumdog Millionaire, had this to say about the ceremony that will also include several NHS and 900 students: "We are trying to capture a sense of humour. With the NHS we got an idea and then tried to make sense of it. Why not nurses and children and connect the two together? I daren't say anymore because I've been told not to."

Boyle said he also wanted to mirror the charm and charisma of the 2000 Sydney Games, saying: "I'd be very honoured if we were compared to Sydney and became a People's Games."

According to the Daily Mail, the event will be rung in by a custom made bell weighing in at 27 tons. It is the biggest ringing bell in Europe.

William Shakespeare's play The Tempest is believed to have been written between 1610 and 1611, and revolves around a magician named Prospero, who is the rightful, albeit exiled, Duke of MIlan. Whilst living on an island with his daughter Miranda, Propsero's former partner Caliban - a deformed beastman - grows weary of her and Prospero after being forced into slavery.

Despite Caliban's disgust of Prospero and Miranda, he is capable of eloquent speeches (including the one inspiring "Isles of Wonder"), highly patriotic and committed to the land where he lives. Boyle hopes to channel this aspect of loyalty in the opening ceremony as well.

Boyle utilized his play, Frankenstein, to test the creative ceremonial waters before hand.